An underwater scooter, or diver propulsion vehicle, can make your dive a little easier – or more exciting – by gently propelling you through the water. Knowing how to find the best underwater scooter will help you cover more of the ocean with less effort while avoiding being caught out miles away from the shoreline.
Even James Bond used an underwater scooter – but you don’t have to be a secret agent to reap the benefits! A DPV is ideal if you have long swim out to your dive site, as it can get you to your location while saving your energy. It’s also a great piece of gear for cave and wreck diving, allowing you to explore more.
Underwater scooters can help you consume less air by pulling you through the water, rather than having to swim.
One of our big goals here at The Adventure Junkies is to make your life easier when it comes to gearing up for scuba diving. In this article, we’ll walk you through what to look for when choosing a DPV and show you our selection of the best models of the year.
THE BEST UNDERWATER SCOOTERS OF 2016
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UNDERWATER SCOOTERS 101
6 THINGS TO CONSIDER TO FIND THE BEST UNDERWATER SCOOTER
1. USE
Consider the key purpose of your underwater scooter, or DPV. Is it for getting out further from the shoreline to your dive site, to see more of a wreck or are you doing technical or cave diving? Perhaps you just want it for some added fun while snorkeling.
Obviously, if you’re just planning to use it for snorkeling then a cheaper model will be fine. But if you plan on using it on more serious dives, you’ll need to fork out for a higher quality model which will meet your needs. You’ll also need to think about the type of conditions you’ll be diving in – anything with a strong current or water flow will use up your battery life faster than if in calm waters.
2. MAXIMUM DEPTH
The maximum depth of your underwater scooter is a key factor to consider before making a purchase. The depth rating will usually reveal the quality of the machine because if it has a high depth rating, then it’s likely to be made to a higher standard and will be more reliable than something that can only be taken to 15 feet (5 meters). Again, consider the purpose of your DPV and this will help you choose a model with an appropriate depth rating.
3. POWER + BATTERY LIFE
Underwater scooter batteries can give varying levels of power and most have adjustable gears to change up your speed underwater. Lithium battery-run scooters with large propellers tend to last much longer. Your power output could be anywhere from a few hundred watts to several kilowatts.
You also need to make sure your device has a good run time, at the very minimum, 30 minutes for a short dive, but preferably more. The last thing you want is to find yourself miles away from the shore or boat with a dead battery and a very long swim back to safety. Your battery life will also depend on how much power you use underwater and what speed you travel at.
4. BUOYANCY
Buoyancy control is a key aspect of scuba diving and anything you carry or wear will affect your buoyancy. That includes your underwater scooter. The more buoyant it is, the harder you’ll have to work to keep traveling at the depth you want to remain at. Most mid to high range DPVs actually have buoyancy controls to suit your diving, otherwise you may need to make adjustments to your own weight.
5. WEIGHT
Remember that you’ll need to carry your DPV with you on land along with all your dive gear, so keep in mind how much it weighs. If you plan on traveling with it, you’ll want a model that is more lightweight to be able to transport easily next to your other dive gear.
6. PRICE
Underwater scooters can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. You’ll get what you pay for – the top end range of DPVs offer outstanding run time of around 4 hours and maximum depth ratings of over 600 feet.
If you’re looking for a DPV purely for recreational purposes then you probably won’t need a top-end model. However, safety is paramount when diving, so beware of purchasing a cheap product that could put you in danger if it runs out of battery too soon, has a mechanical failure underwater or is taken below its maximum depth rating.
Photo by http://ift.tt/2ferAWS
UNDERWATER SCOOTER REVIEWS
1. BEST HIGH PERFORMANCE UNDERWATER SCOOTERS
SUB-GRAVITY REFERENCE RS
Check out the latest price on:
LeisurePro
BEST FOR: Technical diving, high water flows, cave diving
DEPTH: 650’
RUN TIME: 4.3 hours
MAXIMUM SPEED: 3.2 mph
BUOYANCY: Undefined
PROS: Excellent thrust, emergency drive in case of power failure
CONS: Extremely powerful, needs experienced DPV user, expensive
TUSA SAV-7 EVO2
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon | LeisurePro
BEST FOR: Underwater activities such as spearfishing, photography
DEPTH: 230’
RUN TIME: 120 minutes
BUOYANCY: -8 oz
MAXIMUM SPEED: 2.8mph
PROS: Can pull two divers at a time, 3-speed propeller, extremely reliable, can be “hands free” allowing diver to take photos
CONS: Heavy unit, expensive
TUSA SAV-7 EVO
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon | LeisurePro
BEST FOR: Underwater activities including photography, videography
DEPTH: 230’
RUN TIME: 80 minutes
BUOYANCY: Neutral
MAXIMUM SPEED: 2.6mph
PROS: Can pull two divers at a time, 3-speed propeller, able to ‘ride’ scooter to allow hands free
CONS: Older model, there are newer versions of this although the original still rates well
DIVE-XTRAS CUDA 400
Check out the latest price on:
LeisurePro
BEST FOR: Speed
DEPTH: 600’
RUN TIME: 111 minutes
MAXIMUM SPEED: 3mph
BUOYANCY: Neutral or positive with trim weights, allowed on airlines
PROS: 8 gears, travel approved
CONS: Heavier and larger
NEW HOLLIS H-160 SEA JET
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Cave, wreck diving
DEPTH: 656’
RUN TIME: 120 minutes
MAXIMUM SPEED: 3 mph
BUOYANCY: Undefined
PROS: Removable trim weights to suit fresh or saltwater diving, LED light at the front
CONS: Pitch propeller can be tricky to adjust at first
DIVE-XTRAS PIRANHA P1
Check out the latest price on:
LeisurePro
BEST FOR: Travel
DEPTH: 600’
RUN TIME: 120 minutes
MAXIMUM SPEED: 2.6mph
BUOYANCY: Neutral
PROS: The most lightweight model at 34lbs, making transportation easier. Features line trap for easy removal of fishing lines, GoPro mount
CONS: Lower maximum speed than other models
2. BEST RECREATIONAL UNDERWATER SCOOTERS
SEA DOO-SD15002-RS2
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Speed
DEPTH: 130’
RUN TIME: 75 minutes
MAXIMUM SPEED: 3.7 mph
BUOYANCY: Neutral
PROS: Lightweight, ergonomic trigger, gear locking system, high speeds
CONS: Charge time 5-6 hours, materials not as high quality as more expensive models
SEA DOO -SD15001-RS1
BEST FOR: Recreational diving, speed
DEPTH: 130’
RUN TIME: 90 minutes
MAXIMUM SPEED: 3.7mph
BUOYANCY: Neutral
PROS: Includes GoPro mount, ergonomic design, lightweight
CONS: Sea Doo scooter materials not as durable as other brands
TORPEDO 2500
Check out the latest price on:
LeisurePro
BEST FOR: Value for money
DEPTH: 170’
RUN TIME: 55 minutes
BUOYANCY: -2lbs
MAXIMUM SPEED: 2.5 mph
PROS: Slim line design, easy to carry, shrouded propeller
CONS: Limited run time compared to other underwater scooters
SEA DOO GTI
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Recreational diving, snorkeling
DEPTH: 100’
RUN TIME: 120 minutes
MAXIMUM SPEED: 2.5mph
BUOYANCY: Adjustable buoyancy controls
PROS: Can adjust buoyancy, lightweight, can be used on surface for snorkeling
CONS: Materials not as durable as new models, not recommended for more technical diving
Now We’d Love To Hear From You. What’s The Best Underwater Scooter You Have Used?
Disclosure: The Adventure Junkies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost for you. We also use other programs like REI, LeisurePro and others to keep our site independent. You can read more about how do we review here.
The post Top 10 Best Underwater Scooters of 2016 appeared first on The Adventure Junkies.
from The Adventure Junkies http://ift.tt/2fevvCV
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